The countdown begins! MLB Season!!!!

Shortstop · 03-29-09, 10:54 PM

There are many homeless tonight because of your brilliant Syracuse pick.

topgame85 · 03-29-09, 11:03 PM

I'm one of those homeless folks

Shortstop · 03-29-09, 11:07 PM

Shortstop · 03-30-09, 02:24 AM

topgame, give me a winner. I need some cash to put a security deposit on a studio apartment.

Tsoprano · 03-30-09, 02:48 AM

Studio?

Shortstop · 03-30-09, 03:17 AM

Yeah, I lost my house betting on Syracuse tailing topgame. Now I'm trying to gather up enough money to put a security deposit down on a studio apartment. I'm currently staying at The Holiday Inn.

The General · 03-30-09, 09:49 PM

MLB Baseball 2009 is Almost Here!

On April 5, the 2009 MLB season will be getting underway. It's obviously the time of year all of us have been waiting for since Philadelphia captured the World Series title with a series win over Tampa Bay in 2008.

While the 2009 version of the Fall Classic is still months away, a number of story lines are waiting for baseball fans.

With that in mind, MLB.com listed its top 10 things to keep an eye on in 2009. Its top 10 rundown, with my thoughts included:

Can the Phillies repeat? -- This is taking the easy way out in regards to thinking of something to keep in mind in 2009. You could list this in every sport each season... to me, it's only something for Phillies fans. For everyone else, hope springs eternal. All other fans don't care about whether or not the Phillies can repeat, they want know if their team can simply win it.

Yankees reload -- I like to think this is just a New York thing, but I guess everyone keeps an eye out on the Yankees. I'm not worried about them reloading. I enjoyed watching the evil empire miss the playoffs last season. I'll be rooting for the same outcome this year. You either love them, or you hate them.

Tampa Bay Rays -- The Rays were the feel-good story a year ago and could still be the same in 2009. I'd love to see them continue to succeed and their young talent is fun to watch. As a lifelong fan of the Pirates, I love witnessing the rise of the Rays. I'm very interested in seeing whether or not they can continue to their success for another season.

And the Mets -- Okay, so New York has two teams. For the past two years, I've heard nothing but the Mets this and the Mets that and in each season, the Mets blew away any postseason chances. Until they prove they can make the playoffs, my mind will not be on the Mets.

Wild, Wild Wests -- Now this I can agree with. The NL and AL Wests are both going to be very competitive. The NL West was a tight race all of last season and upgrades in Oakland will make the AL West a lot tighter this year. Fact is, nothing beats a good playoff race at the end of the season and these two divisions are both primed for a couple of good ones.

Summer in St. Louis -- The 80th All-Star Game will be played at the new Busch Stadium in St. Louis. A lot can be said about the All-Star Game. Is it the best setup, no? But has it been competitive in recent years? Yes. The games have been fun to watch and I actually still look forward to all the festivities -- and that includes the home run derby.

Breaking the Cubs' Curse -- Is the year that the Cubs will finally win a World Series? Like I said, I'm a lifelong Pirates fan, so I follow the NL Central all the time, but I can admit that I'm tired of the Cubs curse talk. They always seem to have a good team and then always seem to fall flat. I'm not so interested in the Cubs this season. Okay, well, I'm interested in Carlos Zambrano's starts -- got to love fantasy baseball!

Manny being Manny -- After much debate and discussion, Manny finally returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers. I don't know about this story line. Maybe it's because I believe he'll be on good behavior, which means he'll mash the ball. The Dodgers themsevles will be fun to follow, not so much simply because of Manny, though. I just happen to like the talent they've assembled there, most notably Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier.

Final season in Metrodome -- This is big to Twins fans. Not so much to all baseball fans. I'll watch the final games there and it'll be fun to relive the memories of highlights that they'll show, but as far as it being a major story line, it won't have my full attention. I am looking forward to seeing the Twins being competitive again, though.

Expect anything -- And this is what should get any baseball fan. You know during the course of a 162-game season that many things will happen. The best thing is that you always see something that you've never seen before. Baseball, to me, is the world's greatest game and I can't wait to sit through another season of it.

Only a few more days left. What are you most looking forward to?

Page not found – MVN Associates

http://mvn.com/outsider/2009/03/opening-day----its-almost-here.html

The General · 03-30-09, 09:49 PM

Only a few more days left. What are you most looking forward to?

Tsoprano · 03-30-09, 09:53 PM

Yankeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssss ssss

Chi_archie · 03-30-09, 10:09 PM

Gennie, you a bucco fan too????

Ross Ohlendorf wins 15 this year gennie..

element1286 · 03-30-09, 10:10 PM

Originally posted by Chi_archie

Gennie, you a bucco fan too????

Ross Ohlendorf wins 15 this year gennie..

Ohlendorf should be in the pen, IMO.

Shortstop · 03-30-09, 10:14 PM

I really enjoy Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN (minus Joe Morgan of course)

It's a great way to top off the weekend.

topgame85 · 03-30-09, 10:18 PM

I love the day games can't wait

flyingillini · 03-30-09, 10:57 PM

Cardinals!!!!

Shortstop · 03-30-09, 10:59 PM

Marlins!!!!

j0hnnyv · 03-30-09, 11:01 PM

Ryan Howards already slapping them out. gonna be a long season for everyone in the NL.

phils gonna DO WORK!

Wilforth · 03-31-09, 04:53 PM

Topgame85,

I'll be looking forward to your o/u picks.

treece · 03-31-09, 05:04 PM

I love MLB since its my best sport. But i'm going to miss college basketball.

DFoster · 03-31-09, 05:19 PM

Cubs this year...though I wont be betting on them.

TheLock · 03-31-09, 06:49 PM

Originally posted by Shortstop

Marlins!!!!

BASES babbbyyyyyyyy!!!!

What am I looking forward to General?

Watching HanRamirez, Cameron Maybin, Nolasco, Johnson and Volstad have great seasons for the Marlins

Also, watching the late games (Scully calling the Dodgers) and I plan on doing more tailgating this year.

rjt721 · 03-31-09, 07:19 PM

Originally posted by Tsoprano

Yankeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssss ssss

How can you be a fan of both the Celtics and Yanks? That should be a felony.

The General · 10-21-09, 10:58 PM

Been a fun year, but the Dodgers hot start didn't matter in the end.