The Baseball Book Club discussion

So, who's your favorite MLB team?

I've been a Cubs fan since I was a little kid. Only lately I've also been listening to Mariner's games, because it gives me something to do with my MLB audio during my later nights when the Cubs games are over. Since they're on the west coast and I'm in Chicago, the games at home start at like 9 PM, which is ideal for my night owl ways.

Matt wrote: "So, who's your favorite MLB team?

I've been a Cubs fan since I was a little kid. Only lately I've also been listening to Mariner's games, because it gives me something to do with my MLB audio du..."

I went to quite a few games at Wrigley when I was a kid, though I was primarily a Sox fan then. These days (I moved to Washington State in 1981) it's the Mariner's, though they are playing so poorly it's hard to keep the faith. Saw some great baseball this year anyway. Watching Cliff Lee pitch was seeing a master at work, no hesitation, he knew what pitch he was going to throw before he got the ball back from the catcher. I do miss seeing Lou Piniella. Back when my wife and I had season tickets at the Kingdome one of the things we liked about our seats was being able to see Lou throwing tantrums in the dugout.

Although the Orioles have not been in a pennant race recently, when I think of the Baltimore Orioles, I think of Brooks Robinson, Earl Weaver, and Cal Ripken. Some of the best baseball has ever seen. I am currently reading The Glory Of Their Times, an excellent baseball book, many of the stories of the old time players seem to include the National League Orioles.

Matt wrote: "So, who's your favorite MLB team?

I've been a Cubs fan since I was a little kid. Only lately I've also been listening to Mariner's games, because it gives me something to do with my MLB audio du..."

Also a Cubs fan. Living in England the Cubs games are on at a far more convenient hour for me. I guess the allure surrounding Wrigley and the stories about the drought really got to me. Now subscribe to MLB.TV so I can catch all the games that I possibly can.

My loyalties lie in the forgotten time zone - I'm a Denver native, and was 8 or 9 when we got the Rockies - perfect age for making a fan. My fandom was only re-energized by that fantastic run in late '07, and watching the young talent O'Dowd has put together is generally fun, even when they're playing uninspired baseball.

It's also cool that you have a shoo-in hall of famer in Todd Helton on your team. There was a time when I thought Aramis Ramirez or Derrek Lee had shots but, nah, they're not gonna get there. Oh well.

Max wrote: "My loyalties lie in the forgotten time zone - I'm a Denver native, and was 8 or 9 when we got the Rockies - perfect age for making a fan. My fandom was only re-energized by that fantastic run in la..."

I, like Max, was at the perfect age when the Rockies rolled into Denver. I've been going to games since I was 10. Though I'll admit it wasn't until college that I developed a passion for baseball. Even though we are done this year, I am, as I am every season, grateful for the experience and entertainment. Besides, now I can watch the post season unfettered!

As to Matt's comment about Todd, I want so badly for him to be in the HOF, but there are arguments that he won't get in, though he clearly deserves to in my mind. I think that a lot of his batting accomplishments will be diminished because of Coors Field. Hopefully the BBWAA will deem him worthy.

Blue Jays, A's, Red Sox - generally corresponding to places I've lived.

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to the group and excited to talk some baseball.
My favorite team is the Texas Rangers!!! I was there last year, when they won the AL Championship!!! It was a fantastic night. I'll never forget it!! A true baseball pleasure!!!!

I slowly and accidentally have become a fan of the Tampa Bay Rays. Living in the Durham area with season tickets to the AAA Bulls, I've been watching Rays players come up through the system. It's just been a lot of fun watching them progress.

Pre-Bulls/Rays, I was a Tigers fan until I was 35. I'm still a fan of any team currently playing against the Yankees.

My name is Tim and this is my first post on The Baseball Book Club. I grew up in Cincinnati so I'm first and foremost a Reds fan. I live now in Eastern Pa. so I also follow the Phillies.

I'm another Brit and I've been a MLB and Blue Jays fan since '06 when I first visited Toronto (lovely city) and saw my first Big League game. I've been a passionate pro football fan since '85 after the NFL started to appear on British television screens in the early eighties. I'm fascinated by the history of both baseball and pro football and have read a few books covering these topics.

"So, who's your favorite MLB team?

Also a Cubs fan. Living in England the Cubs games are on .."

i can vouch for Cubs fans being all about. i go to round rock (texas) express AAA games and when the iowa cubs visit, the cub fans are a noticeable and vocal presence in the stands. can't think of any other teams that visit that have a road following,
let alone an enthusiastic one.

carl wrote: " "So, who's your favorite MLB team?

Also a Cubs fan. Living in England the Cubs games are on .."

i can vouch for Cubs fans being all about. i go to round rock (texas) express AAA games and ..."

Hey, the Express Stadium is one of my favorite to go too!
The Last time I was there was May 24(Reno vs RR).
I had plans to go next week but my daughter is getting her wisdom teeth removed. So I'll have to wait till August to go.

Diana wrote: "Hey, the Express Stadium is one of my favorite to go too! "

whaddya know? we split season tix with friends so are there quite often as you can imagine, in fact monday & wed are next on the list.

in june josh hamilton & nellie cruz rehabbed for 3 games over a weekend here so that was fun. they batted 3 & 4 in the order and although this is AAA, i can't help but think the opposing pitcher was going, great why me?

nellie hit a HR in every game. one at bat josh threw his bat and it went over the 1stbaseman's head. he stood there a moment and no one went and got it for him like they would in a major league park. he laughed and trotted toward first and someone met him halfway with it.

Matt wrote: "So, who's your favorite MLB team?

I've been a Cubs fan since I was a little kid. Only lately I've also been listening to Mariner's games, because it gives me something to do with my MLB audio du..."

Matt,
I'm on the west coast too but born and raised in Chicago and a White Sox fan. Here's a link to an bit I wrote for Baseball Reflections about the Sox, Cubs and my first trip to Wrigley and other stuff if anyone is interested. http://baseballreflections.com/2011/0...

I have been a Mets fan most of my life but in 2002 I went to my first MLB game at Fenway and was taken in by the Red Sox. There was just something about the way they interacted on the field that really drew me in. I have followed both the Mets and Red Sox across the country to every MLB park now (and written a book about the adventure) so I have also enjoyed seeing all the teams. The way the players move around I guess along with my favorite teams I follow many favorite players. We have the AA Mets near by so I get to see the guys play there and become attached so when they are called up it feels like they are the kid next door.

The last couple years have been tough, but still a loyal Twins fan living in upstate NY. Been a fan since growing up in MN watching Killebrew, Oligarch and Careworn at the old Metropolitan Stadium

The one day playoff in 2009 with Detroit was one of the greatest games i ever saw.The last day of the season in 2011 was perhaps the most exciting day of baseball that I can ever recall even though my Phillies had already sewn up the division.(But I don't know who Oligarch is. I assume Carew is Careworn?)

Oh geez....auto correct at work again! Should be Oliva and Carew for those players. Agree about game 163 in 2009 - last regular season game at the Metrodome turned out to be it's best regular season game.

hehe, that could be a quiz: guess the autocorrected player, harold did pretty well w/Carew.

yes the last day of the last season was amazing.
especially since one of the stations, espn? was switching between all of them and showing split screens of some of the games in progress.

MLB network also just had a show detailing that
day.

Lance wrote: "Oh geez....auto correct at work again! Should be Oliva and Carew for those players. Agree about game 163 in 2009 - last regular season game at the Metrodome turned out to be it's best regular se..."

carl wrote: "hehe, that could be a quiz: guess the autocorrected player, harold did pretty well w/Carew.

yes the last day of the last season was amazing.
especially since one of the stations, espn? was switch..."

I predict a similar last day of the season this year with the 2 wild cards.I am really looking forward to it especially since my phillies are toast.

yes, phillies turn this yr to get the 'how could
you lose w/that team?' award.

don't think i like the 2nd wild card addition. getting to be too much like hockey or basketball,
but then i probably said that when the 1st wild card was added.


Harold wrote: "I predict a similar last day of the season this year with the 2 wild cards.I am really looking forward to it especially since my phillies are toast."

Well, Utley was out til June 25th, Howard til after the All-Star break, Halliday out 6 weeks etc.But the bullpen did them in especially in the 8th inning when they were leading. Under the category how could they lose, I nominate the Marlins.

I don't like a one game setup with the two wild cards. Baseball is the one sport that can't be decided by one game like that. I know it would mean the World Series in November...but it would be better to make that a three game series.

And my vote for how could they lose goes to the Tigers. I wasn't impressed with the Marlin's pick ups and the Phillies could still make a wild card after all those injuries.

I wouldn't count out the Tigers just yet but you are right.They are a big disappointment considering their pickup of Fielder and the great pitching.
But I like the one game playoff.Remember the one day playoff bewteen Minnesota and detroit in 2009? One of the best games ever.

as far as viewers, i think the 1 gamer will get more attention. i used to try to watch at least some of every playoff game, but how many will there be?

i'm for going back to the 154 game season and pull the series back into oct.

lance, definitely recall those players. didn't griffith get the 'cheapest man in baseball' award
sometime in there?

Lance wrote: "The last couple years have been tough, but still a loyal Twins fan living in upstate NY. Been a fan since growing up in MN watching Killebrew, Oligarch and Careworn at the old Metropolitan Stadium"

carl wrote: "as far as viewers, i think the 1 gamer will get more attention. i used to try to watch at least some of every playoff game, but how many will there be?

i'm for going back to the 154 game season ..."

I agree with that too.It's too damn cold to play the series. I have seen games where the temp was 39 degrees.Just not fair to players or fans, but big money demands the longer season

Jonathan wrote: "Harold wrote: "Well, Utley was out til June 25th, Howard til after the All-Star break, Halliday out 6 weeks etc.But the bullpen did them in especially in the 8th inning when they were leading. Unde..."

I gotta give you dibbs Jonathan. The angels looked like they would give Texas all they could handle with Lewis and Pujols. They are a big disappointment,but I doubt thta Mike Soccia's job is in jeopardy.

Carl he did get that label, but it wasn't fair IMO. Before free agency, he gave generous contracts to players who PROVED themselves such as Killebrew. Often he would simply give extra money to guys whose families were hurting especially Latino players...unheard of in the 60s. Zoilo Versailles is one such player...and he played his guts out for Calvin and was the AL MVP in that glorious 1965 season.

Calvin was simply labeled cheap because he was the last of the owners whose main business was baseball. It was not a hobby like it was for Steinbrenner, Turner,et al.

I know one game playoffs work. You guys talk about 2009...don't forget my Twins also played one in 2008. Lost a heartbreaking 1-0 game to the White Sox. Only run...a Homer by Jim Thome. Why I remember that as vividly as I do seeing Orlando Cabrerra's game winning hit is something I can't explain.

But as A PLAYOFF series I don't like it. Mainly because of pitching rotations. Say the Tigers get one of the spots. Verlander pitched two days ago. Should they really be drummed out of the.playoffs.without their best pitcher getting one chance?

True, but does a team deserve to win the League Championship if it doesn't have depth?

A seven game series will expose that weakness. Pitching on three days rest fails more often than it succeeds. Let's face it no team will have three quality starters any longer

Okay .. there IS an exception to every rule! But it took Zito to finally come around after how many years in SF? And being an old timer...while good these guys still don't compare to staffs like the Orioles in the early 70s or the Yankees and Dodgers of the late 70s

oh you remind me that the headlines for the first few months of the season were about waiting for
pujohls to hit a HR.

Harold wrote: " The angels looked like they would give Texas all they could handle with Lewis and Pujols. They are a big disappointment,but I doubt thta Mike Soccia's job is in jeo..."

that's what's killing me regarding the various playoff
games, winning the 162 game season should count for something. then some 3 games over .500 second place team bumps off the first place .636 team cause
the pitching rotations synced the wrong/or the right way depending how you look at it.

Harold wrote: "True, but does a team deserve to win the League Championship if it doesn't have depth?"

Lance, i recall Carew going to the Angels,sacrilege!
for more money, and i believe i had a Zoilo Versailles
baseball card, gee wonder what happened to that?

Halliday,Lee,and Hamels isn't bad either in a normal year.Or how about Mark Mulder, Tim Hudson, and barry Zito?

I remember but we were talking top 3. Cory later pitched for the Phillies and ended of course with the yankees.
P.S. Lee,Halliday,Hamels, and oswalt wasn't bad either

Actually. Carew was traded to the Angels before he left via free agency. The Twins did get two players in that trade who made All-Star teams - Ken Landreaux and Dave Engel. Not exactly an even trade but at the Twins got something.

ahh yes dobson, dobson, always the one i can't remember
in that trivia question.

Jonathan wrote: " Ah, yes. Cuellar, McNally, Dobson and Palmer. ..."

http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/art...
You must view this-gotta love the Nats chances after this

What the?!

Was the link bad?

ha, no the link was good, just couldn't believe
they had them do the re-enactment!

never heard of them doing that before.

looks like the various races going down
to last game or two.

Harold wrote: "Was the link bad?"

Just like last season.You gotta love it.I get so depressed after the season ends, but then there are the winter meetings and the draft.