JohnS Posted April 4, 2015 Author Posted April 4, 2015 At least with Wrigley Field the outfield hedge will always make it iconic. Agreed, if Shea was like Wrigley Field or Fenway Park it would still be there.
wabashcr Posted April 4, 2015 Posted April 4, 2015 At least with Wrigley Field the outfield hedge will always make it iconic. Agreed, if Shea was like Wrigley Field or Fenway Park it would still be there. The ivy at Wrigley Field was supposedly inspired by similar ivy at Bush Stadium (then Perry Field) in Indianapolis, which is where I grew up watching baseball. We have a pretty popular AAA team, and their old stadium was awesome. They built a shiny, new ballpark downtown in the 90s, and glorious old Bush Stadium was left to decay. In the past couple years they've turned it into a condominium/apartment complex, while retaining some of the old structure, not unlike what Arsenal did with Highbury. Some of the best memories of my childhood came in that old ballpark. 2
riazp Posted April 4, 2015 Posted April 4, 2015 Wrigley is a ballpark I really want to go to. Been to a few, Old yankee and new Yankeee (new yankee sucks) Shae...it was unispiering and im sure mets fans will all say citi field is a much better home for their team. Fenway has been by far the best ballpark experience i've had. Citizens park in philly is quite nice as well. This year im defenitly catching another game at CiTi field, ill catch a game at the nationals ball park in dc as well. I've never been to safeco and need to go back to seattle soon to catch a game there. I was ranked the best ball park in america when it comes to selection of craft brews! If only we could light up a cigar at these parks...now that would be heavenly
LLC Posted April 4, 2015 Posted April 4, 2015 I've been able to get to both parks in Chicago and there is nothing quite like Wrigley Field. This year I plan on going to Fenway and Yankee Stadium to see the Jays play.
JohnS Posted April 5, 2015 Author Posted April 5, 2015 I can't wait for tonight's opener at Wrigley Field versus the Cardinals. An interesting match-up with Adam Wainwright going up against the big recruit for the Cubs during the offseason, Jon Lester. Incidentally, here's an interesting article from MLB experts who collectively have predicted a Washington Nationals vs Seattle Mariners World Series, with the Nationals winning. http://m.mlb.com/news/article/116252342/mlb-experts-make-picks-who-will-win-it-all-in-2015 As the season pans out, it will be fun to go back to this article and compare how the predictions went.
JohnS Posted April 5, 2015 Author Posted April 5, 2015 Bill James, the inventor of sabermetrics, a mathematical set of statistics to measure subjective in-game plays in baseball has views on the game that has been known to polarise fans. Personally, I find what he has had to say intriguing at times. For example, he has always advocated that the role of a closer in Baseball is over-rated, instead it is more important to have a 'go-to' pitcher when the game is close or tied from the 7th innings onwards (remember Keith Foulke?). The Boston Red Sox applied sabermetrics to their baseball operations in 2003 and went on to win the World Series in 2004 and 2007. On the other hand, Billy Beane's management of the Oakland Athletics based on 'pure' sabermetrics has achieved good results out of the team over the years, without the ability to come up trumps at the 'money' end of the season (see the movie Moneyball with Brad Pitt) against more expensive or and/or experienced teams. In the article below, Dave Fleming has made 50 predictions in regards to the 2015 season. The original article can be found at Bill James' website, and I'm assuming the presumptions are based on 2014 statistics. http://www.billjamesonline.com/50_ways_to_predict_a_season/
JohnS Posted April 10, 2015 Author Posted April 10, 2015 Some significant happenings from yesterday's games... Matt Harvey dominated Stephen Strasburg in six innings of shutout pitching in his comeback from Tommy John Surgery in October, 2013. Harvey set up the Mets 6-3 win over the Nationals, with 4 hits and a walk in his 91 pitch effort. Most importantly, he's lost none of his heat, whiffing 9 with 96-97 mph fastballs. http://m.mlb.com/news/article/117231626/mets-starter-matt-harvey-doesnt-miss-beat-in-dominant-2015-debut And Alex Rodriguez homered in Thursday's 6-3 loss to the Blue Jays, his first homer since September 2013. After sitting out the 2014 season due to suspension, Rodriguez, who turns out 40 in July, homered to be within 5 home runs of 4th place in home runs totals, Willie Mays at 660. (We all know Barry Bonds holds the current all-time home runs record at 762) Rodriguez is just happy to be back, batting second in the Yankees' line-up today as the designated hitter. http://m.mlb.com/news/article/117275504/new-york-yankees-alex-rodriguez-bats-second-hits-first-homer-vs-toronto-blue-jays
Redsoxnat Posted April 10, 2015 Posted April 10, 2015 Questionable? It all depends on staying healthy. We have some of the best bats in the league so run production should be there. The line up is good as long as they produce like a year or two ago. It's all about health for us Red Sox. I think that both teams from Chicago will be pretty good this year but I have to say... Red Sox nation all the way! Worst to 1st to worst to 1st Although this year is highly questionable
ChanceSchmerr Posted April 10, 2015 Posted April 10, 2015 As always, I root hard for the Blue Jays and despise the Reprehensible Red Sux and Yuck-tastic Yank-mees. And the OrioLOLs need to be taken down a peg too. But I won't make any public prognostications this season, because for 20-odd years I seem to eat my words every September. I did, however, take the opportunity to visit my local British High-Street bookmaker shop to make a wager on the season.
dtrott Posted April 11, 2015 Posted April 11, 2015 Been a St Louis Cardinal fan since 1966, when they played the Bosox in the W.S.My grandmother(rest her soul) was a big Red Sox fan .and we talked baseball till her final days.THATS WHY BASEBALL IS SO GREAT!!!!
skalls Posted April 11, 2015 Posted April 11, 2015 My lowly Twins are headed to an 0-162 record. My brother and I have already discussed skipping the annual twins games that we go too and do the St Paul Saints instead
wabashcr Posted April 11, 2015 Posted April 11, 2015 And Alex Rodriguez homered in Thursday's 6-3 loss to the Blue Jays, his first homer since September 2013. After sitting out the 2014 season due to suspension, Rodriguez, who turns out 40 in July, homered to be within 5 home runs of 4th place in home runs totals, Willie Mays at 660. (We all know Barry Bonds holds the current all-time home runs record at 762) Rodriguez is just happy to be back, batting second in the Yankees' line-up today as the designated hitter. http://m.mlb.com/news/article/117275504/new-york-yankees-alex-rodriguez-bats-second-hits-first-homer-vs-toronto-blue-jays A-Rod's contract with the Yankees includes bonus clauses that see him paid millions as he works his way up the all time HR list. I believe he's due in the neighborhood of $6 million when he ties or passes Mays. The Yankees organization, however, would do anything to get rid of A-Rod, and not have to ever pay him another dime. He already makes $25M+ in salary, which is insane. The Yankees are expected to refuse to pay his bonuses, claiming they're tainted, and the team couldn't market them, due to his steroid use. I get where the Yankees are coming from. If it was anyone other than A-Rod, it would be a pretty big deal when he passes Mays, Ruth, Aaron, and Bonds. The team could cash in on that. Not so much with A-Rod. But on the other hand, the Yankees are pissed they have to pay A-Rod so much in salary. They knew he was a drug cheat when they re-signed him. Now they want out. Too bad. They've almost managed to make A-Rod a sympathetic character, which is no small task.
forgop Posted April 11, 2015 Posted April 11, 2015 Cubs are already eliminated from playoff contention.
JohnS Posted April 11, 2015 Author Posted April 11, 2015 Been a St Louis Cardinal fan since 1966, when they played the Bosox in the W.S.My grandmother(rest her soul) was a big Red Sox fan .and we talked baseball till her final days.THATS WHY BASEBALL IS SO GREAT!!!! San Fran Giants---nuff said! Well, you've both had your fair share of joy in the past few years!
dtrott Posted April 11, 2015 Posted April 11, 2015 Yeah , I can,t argue that!Cards always seem to put together a competitive team, while being very careful(almost to a fault) with the teams payroll.
JohnS Posted April 11, 2015 Author Posted April 11, 2015 A-Rod's contract with the Yankees includes bonus clauses that see him paid millions as he works his way up the all time HR list. I believe he's due in the neighborhood of $6 million when he ties or passes Mays. The Yankees organization, however, would do anything to get rid of A-Rod, and not have to ever pay him another dime. He already makes $25M+ in salary, which is insane. The Yankees are expected to refuse to pay his bonuses, claiming they're tainted, and the team couldn't market them, due to his steroid use. I get where the Yankees are coming from. If it was anyone other than A-Rod, it would be a pretty big deal when he passes Mays, Ruth, Aaron, and Bonds. The team could cash in on that. Not so much with A-Rod. But on the other hand, the Yankees are pissed they have to pay A-Rod so much in salary. They knew he was a drug cheat when they re-signed him. Now they want out. Too bad. They've almost managed to make A-Rod a sympathetic character, which is no small task. Yes I agree, wabashcr. It's a repeat of the final season Barry Bonds had with the Giants. They were so keen to get the Hank Aaron 755 home-run record out of the way that they milked Bonds for what they could get, and then did not renew his contract. Bonds was in shock that no other MLB team wanted to build their team around his personal whims and demands, the BALCO drug scandal just solidified the Giants' resentment towards him. Alex Rodriguez will find that once his current contractual obligations are finished, he'll be finished as a ball player and his public comments lately reflect, to me, that he is fully aware of this. Cubs are already eliminated from playoff contention. Don't give up yet. A baseball season is always full of twists and turns!
forgop Posted April 11, 2015 Posted April 11, 2015 Don't give up yet. A baseball season is always full of twists and turns! I'm not a Cubs fan so there's nothing for me. Huddy got his ring last year and making this his final season. Good enough for me. 1
JohnS Posted April 12, 2015 Author Posted April 12, 2015 New York Mets' hitting coach, Kevin Long has lofty goals for 41 year-old starting pitcher Bartolo Colon for 2015 New Mets hitting coach Kevin Long recently spoke with the media down at Spring Training in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and addressed the goals he and Colon have discussed heading into the 2015 season. "Bartolo's got some work to do," Long chuckled. "He's not too vested in putting that much time into getting his swing where it needs to be. He said he had two hits last year. I said how about four hits this year? He said how about three. That's where we're at with Bartolo." A professional's job is never done. As baseball fans know, unless you are Mike Hampton or Tom Glavine, pitchers are lucky to hit .100 in a season. Bartolo Colon takes this average to new lows. Last season he managed 2 hits in 62 at-bats. What I enjoy about his batting is how ungainly and against the text-book it is! Mike Bertha recently wrote a humorous MLB article on Colon's batting here: http://m.mlb.com/cutfour/2015/03/02/110878410/professional-slugger-bartolo-colon-sets-lofty-goal-for-his-production-at-the-plate-in-2015 When I read this article a week ago, I thought it may come back to bite. On the back of Colon's disastrous Spring Training ERA of 7.27, his first two games has seen him win twice, with an ERA of 2.77 and a bloop single to break a 2-2 tie that no batting coach would advocate, especially due to the fact that Colon swung on a pitch one foot outside the strike zone! http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2428469-mets-bartolo-colon-comes-up-with-rbi-single-loses-helmet-during-swing It's early days, but here's hoping we get to see more batting endeavours from Bartolo in 2015!
AbuAmelia Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 We will be fine, don't worry. Iglesias Kinsler Caberra Martinez Cespedes Martinez That will be tough fire any ochre to get through. Sent by telepathic super powers -Stogie Boy 6-0
Lant63 Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 6-0Oh my lord I was drunk when typing that. But yes that lineup it will be tough for any pitcher. There's a lot of power, and a lot of speed with goose and Davis. Our pitching wasn't actually that strong last year, there's a possibility that the pitching could improve this year. But the offense is tougher too. Sent by telepathic super powers -Stogie Boy 1
Charley Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 San Fran Giants---nuff said! Oh crap.......a Gnat fan......I thought this board had better standards. Go Dodgers!
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