[elsworth]

Unlikely to be the most popular, but hopefully like-minded Baseball fans will join in some healthy deabte ...

Also anyone looking to get into the sport, should post here...its definately one to watch and learn.

Anyway, we start tonight with the Champs' St. Louis vs this years favourites New York Mets (CH5 12:40am)

Im going for the Mets by 4... though being a Red' may sway my prediction a little.

MON Griffey having a big year!

[elsworth]

Ill kick things off with some season predictions:

AL:
East - Yankees
Central - Twins
West - Angels
Wildcard - Blue Jays

NL:
East - Mets
Central - Reds (who else!)
West - Dodgers
Wildcard - Cubs

Playoffs:

AL Champions - Yankees
NL Champions - Cubs

World Series - Yankees over Cubs in 6

[punkskamonkey]

Got into Baseball last year - as in started watching quite a few games (channel 5 being my only access) and picking up the rules, etc.

Don't support a team though, maybe I shall pick on before the season starts! I've picked Chicago Fire as my MLS team so I may go for the Chicago baseball team too, they're the Cubs right?

Question that probably has a really obvious answer: How/why do the two New York teams play in different Conferences?

[pjburrage]

Red Sox
White Sox
Cardinals

All 3 of those winning in the past 3 years, almost down to fate, so when you have the Cubs in the World Series, you have them losing. The Baseball Gods play some weird stuff at times.

Think it'll be a New York final this fall.

[Jason the Yank]

Originally posted by punkskamonkey:
Don't support a team though, maybe I shall pick on before the season starts! I've picked Chicago Fire as my MLS team so I may go for the Chicago baseball team too, they're the Cubs right?

2 teams in Chicago, Cubs and White Sox.

Question that probably has a really obvious answer: How/why do the two New York teams play in different Conferences?

Because the American League and National League actually are different leagues. They cooperate a lot more than they used to, but they're still technically seperate entities (as seen in the rules variance where the National League makes the pitcher bat, but the American League uses the designated hitter for the pitcher).

[pjburrage]

Question that probably has a really obvious answer: How/why do the two New York teams play in different Conferences?

Giants and Dodgers left NY for the West Coast, leading to no New York team in the National League, hence when there was expansion in 62, the Mets were placed in NY.

Same happens with the two Chicago, LA, and Bay Area teams.

[Andy Jordan]

my fantasy team is STUNNER

Lo Duca, Prince Fielder, Howie Kendrick, Hanley Ramirez, Joe Crede, Jermaine Dye, Grady Sizemore, Carl Crawford in your face

[Ville]

About to start watching the Mets against Cardinals. Opening day finally here :thup:

[Jason the Yank]

Originally posted by Andy Jordan:
my fantasy team is STUNNER

Lo Duca, Prince Fielder, Howie Kendrick, Hanley Ramirez, Joe Crede, Jermaine Dye, Grady Sizemore, Carl Crawford in your face

My team:

C: Russell Martin (LA)
1B: Lyle Overbay (TOR)
2B: Chris Burke (HOU)
SS: Hanley Ramirez (FLA)
3B: Eric Chavex (OAK)
OF: Alfonso Soriano (CHC)
OF: Grady Sizemore (CLE)
OF: Curtis Granderson (DET)
DH: Adrian Gonzalez (SD)

SP: Roy Oswalt (HOU)
SP: Brandon Webb (ARI)
SP: Erik Bedard (BAL)
SP: Chris Capuano (MIL)
SP: Mike Maroth (DET)
RP: Bobby Jenks (CHW)
RP: Jorge Julio (FLA)

Bench:
C Gerald Laird (TEX)
2B: Josh Barfield (CLE)
SS: J.J. Handy (MIL)
3B: Alex Gordon (KC)
OF: Juan Pierre (LA)
SP: Zack Greinke (KC)
SP: Anthony Reyes (STL)
SP: Tim Linecum (SF) (actually in minors, but everyone says he's an immense talent)
RP: Ryan Dempster (CHC)

[Andrew K]

Starting the season on Sunday night is one of the reasons why I don't have much interest in the sport these days. Though, I guess its improvement as it is at least not in Japan.