I know none of you care but ........ (the Baseball thread)

[pmarachi]

The problem with lifting bans is that possession of the drugs in question is itself illegal.

exactly!

The problem is

A) drugs are bad and it is cheating.
B) it's in the past, and you can't honestly use selective justice to retroactively  punish people 6 years later.
C) MLB didn't want to make rules that may have helped preventing this stuff from happening in the beginning.

The only thing they can do now is test everyone at the start of every season, and test random players throughout the season.  Maybe even test every player randomly during the season as well.  It may cost a lot and may be a pain, but baseball has the cash, and I don't care if it's a pain because these guys obviously need to be babysat.

Also make the punishment moving forward stiffer.  A solid year would be nice, second offense life ban.

That would deter some people I would think.  


All that being said, I support Arod.
thee end.

[UK Redsox]

World Baseball Classic II just starting now on MLB.com

China @ Japan in the first game, with the next great pitching star "Yu Darvish" on the mound for Japan.

Who's ya got ?

[pmarachi]

World Baseball Classic II just starting now on MLB.com

China @ Japan in the first game, with the next great pitching star "Yu Darvish" on the mound for Japan.

Who's ya got ?

So YOU'RE the guy who watches the WBC!!!!

I knew there must be a reason why they had it again!

[UK Redsox]

Meanwhile back back at regular Spring Training, the LA Dodgers have finally re-signed Manny "Being Manny" Ramirez.

[cdbearsfan]

I want Cuba to win.

Viva Fidel!

[cdbearsfan]

On a change of topic, who should I support in Major League Baseball?

Is there any team that's a bit like Villa who have a glorious history but aren't worshipped-by-the-media-wankers like the Yankees (America's Man Ure)?

Are there any British or, better still, Brummie players in it?

If not, due to the Hispanic influence on the game, there must at least be a few players called Villa!

[UK Redsox]

On a change of topic, who should I support in Major League Baseball?

Is there any team that's a bit like Villa who have a glorious history but aren't worshipped-by-the-media-wankers like the Yankees (America's Man Ure)?

Are there any British or, better still, Brummie players in it?

If not, due to the Hispanic influence on the game, there must at least be a few players called Villa!

Surprisingly there's never been a MLB player called "Villa". The closest are:-

From To
2004 2004 Eduardo Villacis
2000 2004 Brandon Villafuerte
2006 2008 Carlos Villanueva
1990 1993 Hector Villanueva
2003 2008 Oscar Villarreal

The last Brit that I remember in MLB is Lance Painter. He was born in Bedford but retired in 2003.

Probably the most well known Brit to have played was Bobby Thompson of the New York Giants. He hit the "Shot heard round the world" that lead to the most famous commentary in baseball history "the Giants win the pennant! the Giants win the pennant!". (A few years ago I had a letter regarding Bobby Thompson published in the Daily Telegraph.)

As for a team to follow, here's some suggestions:-

Boston Red Sox - Well, I would say that !!

Cleveland Indians - Although Randy's got nothing to do with them, they are in Cleveland so there's a slight Villa connection. Also if you ever visit the city there's the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame as an added bonus. On the downside they've got a stupid name and a racist logo.

Los Angeles Dodgers - Great history without any real recent success, compelling player (Manny "Being Manny" Ramirez) and manager (Joe Torre). Seem poised to challenge for the title in the near future.

Tampa Bay Rays - A group of young players lead by a slightly off the wall manager. Last season they finished above the Red Sox and Yankees before eventually losing in the World Series. Seem set to challenge for years to come. Probably the most Villa-like team.


Don't go for...........................

Washington Nationals - complete no-hopers

Baltimore Orioles & Toronto Blue Jays - in the same division as the Red Sox, Yankees and Rays, so they've no chance.

New York Yankees - The Evil Empire. They're Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal rolled into one.

Chicago Cubs - For sadists only

[cdbearsfan]

I wonder if I should support the Cubs as I support the Bears and Cubs are baby Bears?
I am thinking of Cleveland as I think they were the first team to have a black player (I might be wrong though). Don't think I'll pick Red Sox sorry. They seem too popular to me.

[pmarachi]

In all honesty, if you are just picking up baseball, you can't root for the Redsox or Yankees.

Sorry UKR, but the Redsox eclipsed the Yankees as the ultimate frontrunner team a while back, and the Yankees are the team that everyone just hates.

(I am a Yankee fan, grew up one and still live 30 minutes from the stadium.  Closest pro-stadium to my home by a long shot)

But in reality, Yankees, Redsox are out.

Cubs are kind of the trendy Chicago team.  If you like to follow Chicago, I would go White Sox.

If I were you I would take two things into account.

1) Pick a team that is in a city that you may actually want to visit if you come over here.

2) Pick a team that has a following, so you may actually meet another fan someday.

(Trust me, as a Villa fan, it gets lonely when no one at the pub even knows what your team is, and people keep asking "is that like arsenal?")

I would say the short list may go...

Mets- They play in New York, and even though I HATE the Mets, no one is ever going to accuse you of jumping on the bandwagon.  Plus they play in NY (kinda)...

Phillies- yeah they won the WS, but trust me, no one is gonna accuse you of being a follower.  The fan base is rabid, and it's still a team that you can get into.  Even though they won the WS, they aren't thought of as a sure thing (this is a lot different than football)

Angels/ Dodgers/ -  LA is cool.

White Sox/ Cubs- Chicago is cool, your'e already a bears fan.  I would suggest the Sox, but you seem to be more into the Cubs, and it's a better stadium experiance.

Oakland A's- Cool City too.  Always a decent squad.


Clevo is a bad choice.

Cleveland is not the first team to have a black player, and trust me, you will NEVER EVER EVER EVER- EVER want to go to cleveland for anything!

Also, no Tampa Bay.  You don't want to go to Tampa Bay... Trust me on that... and the team doesn't even play in Tampa Bay anyway... They play in a worse city across the bridge.  (For now...)


Bottom line is this.  Go with your heart.  



(and the best looking hat)

[cdbearsfan]

Cheers for advice.

I think I will go for the Chicago teams, Chicago looks nice (they had lots of adverts up a year or so back in our city centre cos it's twinned with Birmingham).

I assume they are different conferences (like Jets/Giants) so I can follow both, or is that cheating?

[pmarachi]

Cheers for advice.


I assume they are different conferences (like Jets/Giants) so I can follow both, or is that cheating?

American league and National league.

In the National league the pitchers bat.  In the American league they have a designated hitter, and the pitcher doesn't bat.

The cubs are national league.


And no, you can't follow both.

You are actually required to like one and extremely dislike the other.

I am a yankee fan and I hate the Mets more than I hate the redsox.

[cdbearsfan]

I have been on this site to try to decide (seeing as nasty pmarachi won't let me have two teams!)...

http://www.wikihow.com/Choose-a-Baseball-Team-to-Support

I think I am going to follow the advice and watch some games before deciding which team appeals to me.

Unfortunately, as I only tend to watch about one baseball match every three years this may take some time!

I have found out the American for "Glory-Hunter". It's "Front-Runner".

I will drop it casually into a H&V thread and see if anyone knows what I'm on about!

[UK Redsox]

Yesterday saw one of history's greatest sporting upsets as Holland beat the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.

This is as much of an upset as if, say................. the Dominican Republic beat Holland at football !!

[UK Redsox]

Clevo is a bad choice.

Cleveland is not the first team to have a black player, and trust me, you will NEVER EVER EVER EVER- EVER want to go to cleveland for anything!

They were the second team to have a black player in the post-war era. Larry Doby joined them a matter of weeks after Jackie Robinson had joined the Dodgers. They also brought in the legendary Satchel Paige as well.

As I mentioned, Cleveland has the RnR Hall of Fame. That's gotta count for something.


Whilst, like football, you can only support one team, you can have a passing interest in a team from the other league. As long as there's no rivalry with your main team. Eg, I also take an interest in the Milwaukee Brewers (because the have the best commentator and a friend of mine lives in Milwaukee) and the Atlanta Braves (because they were the first team I saw a lot of on TV and they used to play in Boston).

[pmarachi]

I have been on this site to try to decide (seeing as nasty pmarachi won't let me have two teams!)...

http://www.wikihow.com/Choose-a-Baseball-Team-to-Support

I think I am going to follow the advice and watch some games before deciding which team appeals to me.

Unfortunately, as I only tend to watch about one baseball match every three years this may take some time!

I have found out the American for "Glory-Hunter". It's "Front-Runner".

I will drop it casually into a H&V thread and see if anyone knows what I'm on about!

HAHAHA

hell!

You can root for 5 teams if you want!

But seriously, follow your gut.  












and pick a cool hat...