Baseball Season Starting Up

[TheTaxidermist]

Yeah... I know nobody cares about baseball except me on here. Well guess what... that's fine by me. I love baseball despite how boring it is to people who aren't fans. And guess what else... baseball season just started up officially today and my pathetic Pittsburgh Pirates won their first game. Yeah... so suck on that.

[Not_My_Style]

Don't worry, you have one more baseball fan right here. Sadly I'm a Cubs fan and they lost 5-1. Hey, at least the White Sox got crushed by even a wider margin. :)

The NL Central is complete garbage this year so I'm thinking the Cubs may have a shot at winning the division. At least a wild-card would be nice, but this year it's going to be division or bust.

By the way, Pittsburgh has no chance. heh. :D

[TheTaxidermist]

Regardless of if they have no chance at all, I'll still root for em. I'll still attend 15+ games this year. I guess you have it worse though. What is it, 98 years since a WS championship? 14 losing seasons in a row for my buccos though. It's embarrassing. I went to an Orioles, Athletics game last year dressed in my Pirate gear. I ended up meetin someone who grew up in my neighborhood. I'm going to a Twins Orioles game on Wednesday when I go to Minneapolis and once again, I'll be sporting my Pirates gear.

[Not_My_Style]

Regardless of if they have no chance at all, I'll still root for em. I'll still attend 15+ games this year. I guess you have it worse though. What is it, 98 years since a WS championship? 14 losing seasons in a row for my buccos though. It's embarrassing. I went to an Orioles, Athletics game last year dressed in my Pirate gear. I ended up meetin someone who grew up in my neighborhood. I'm going to a Twins Orioles game on Wednesday when I go to Minneapolis and once again, I'll be sporting my Pirates gear.

I wish I could go to 15 games or more a year. Getting tickets for Cubs games is hard, as you probably already know. Sure you can always pick up tickets from a scalper, but that won't come cheap. I usually go to about 2 or 3 games a year if I'm lucky. Usually I go when I "come upon" some free tickets from a friend or family member.

It's really fun to compare Wrigley Field to U.S. Cellular Field. The Sox are so desperate to fill seats that they have to advertise all over the place. Billboards, newspapers, and even their lame T.V. commercials. They also have those stupid "Dollar Hot Dog Day" and "Bring your Dog to the Ballpark Day". 2 years ago, when the Sox were obviously going to go to the playoffs (and won the WS), they could still barely fill half the stadium. It's funny to compare the two. At least you can get tickets for Sox games though, even though they're garbage. :lol:

[dooganking]

you could always just go to the cubs-brewers games in milwaukee... though you'll still probably want to get tickets at some point before going...

and i have no idea what you're talking about by saying he NL central is complete garbage. It's competetive, which makes things interesting (especially when the brewers get so much attention). But it certainly isn't complete garbage.

[Not_My_Style]

you could always just go to the cubs-brewers games in milwaukee... though you'll still probably want to get tickets at some point before going...

and i have no idea what you're talking about by saying he NL central is complete garbage. It's competetive, which makes things interesting (especially when the brewers get so much attention). But it certainly isn't complete garbage.

Yes, but compared to divisions like the AL Central it is. Most people think the Cardinals are going to go down hill, and the Astros usually choke (hint: last season).

[dooganking]

i agree we don't have any super-power teams like other divisions, but we certainly don't have any of the worst teams in the league either...

and if i'm not mistaken people said the cardinals weren't that great last year and look where they went...

i do agree with you though that there are some teams that seem to have lost a step from previous years, but there are other teams that are making some pretty good strides towards getting to the post-season.

[Not_My_Style]

but there are other teams that are making some pretty good strides towards getting to the post-season.

Yep, like our two teams. :D

I'm still mad that the Cardinals won the World Series last year. They never should have made it that far, let alone into the playoffs.

[dooganking]

i certainly agree... but it was what it was...

[Collision]

How are the Cincinnati Red's doing?

[Insane Skills]

I hope the Cubs will win the World Series this year. They haven't won in a long time. :(

[TheTaxidermist]

How are the Cincinnati Red's doing?

Tied for first with my Pirates in the NL Central. I was in Minneapolis for the week and caught a Twins Orioles game. We gave the left fielder Jay Gibbons of the Orioles all kinds of hell. What made it even better was his 0-4 performance and his error on an easy pop fly.

[Nick_Fury]

I'm a Cubs fan as well. I don't know why though because no matter how much potential we seem to have, something is always going wrong.

The suggestion about getting tickets to a Cubs-Brewers game is usually the way to go, though I usually manage to get to 3 or 4 games at Wrigley every year. During school, my friends who went to Marquette would always buy some tickets and then we would hang out in Wisconsin for the weekend or just a night and go to the game. Good times.

[Soritong]

I was excited for the Phillies season, but with their current start, I'm getting kinda worried.

[Nick_Fury]

I was excited for the Phillies season, but with their current start, I'm getting kinda worried.

Ryan Howard isn't exactly off to the best of starts. The team will probably go as he goes for the season.

[TheTaxidermist]

In the last few years they've started off bad, then they've picked it up. And then missed the playoffs by a game or two.

[Nick_Fury]

In the last few years they've started off bad, then they've picked it up. And then missed the playoffs by a game or two.

Well, that's something to look forward to, I guess. If it makes you feel better the Cubs will remain mediocre all year and miss the playoffs by about 10 games.

[Soritong]

Ryan Howard isn't exactly off to the best of starts. The team will probably go as he goes for the season.

Utley and Burrell have let me down as well. Seems like the only guy playing with some heart lately is Rollins.

I can always live my dreams out in MLB2K7. Phillies FTW!

[TheTaxidermist]

Well, that's something to look forward to, I guess. If it makes you feel better the Cubs will remain mediocre all year and miss the playoffs by about 10 games.

But I 'm not a Phillies fan. I was relating how the story goes for the Phillies. For the Bucs? Miss the playoffs by about 20 games every year... By the way, boo Soriano. That bum has gotten me diddily in fantasy baseball.

I'm goin to the Pirate game against the Giants on Saturday and I'm preparing to boo Barroids from my left field bleacher seats.

[Nick_Fury]

Oops, sorry about the confusion Taxi. Anyway, yes, Soriano has been doing quite poorly. He needs to start getting on base so Derrek Lee can drive him in.

Any bets on which of our two teams gets last this year? It tends to be a battle most seasons between the Cubs and Bucs for who can do the worst.

[Soritong]

We should do a GamerNode.com fantasy league, heh.

[TheTaxidermist]

Any bets on which of our two teams gets last this year? It tends to be a battle most seasons between the Cubs and Bucs for who can do the worst.

The way I see it, the Bucs should (should mind you), win 3 out of 5 games. They have 3 great starters. Of course, when your closer is a bum and blows 3 games (2 saves), then you aren't going to have much success. I'm really regretting that LaRoche/Gonzalez deal right now.

[Nick_Fury]

We should do a GamerNode.com fantasy league, heh.

We did a football one. Maybe if there is enough interest come next year we can do one. I would be in but I don't know how many baseball fans there are on these boards.

[TheTaxidermist]

There was one for football? Are you referring to the one I made and invited people to join? If not, how come nobody informed me of this? I would have loved to dominate you all.

[dooganking]

There was one for football? Are you referring to the one I made and invited people to join? If not, how come nobody informed me of this? I would have loved to dominate you all.

just remember it was me and my friend in the championship of your league taxi...

and uh... as for the fantasy league... i'd be in...

[TheTaxidermist]

Hmm, well last season I was in 10 football leagues and won 6 of them. Musta been in one of those other 4 leagues.

[dooganking]

Hmm, well last season I was in 10 football leagues and won 6 of them. Musta been in one of those other 4 leagues.

erm... well... i... uh... I STILL GOT THAT ONE!!!... and you can't ever take that away from me... (even though i didn't win the championship...)

[Not_My_Style]

Anybody want to start a fantasy baseball league while the season is still fresh?

[TheTaxidermist]

I already made 2... but they are already in progress.

[Not_My_Style]

So, looks like the Cubs are doing pretty losey (surprise surprise). The Brewers are doing good though, dooganking.

[TheTaxidermist]

Congratulations to the Pirates on succeeding hitting the .500 mark some point after the first week, even though it was only for one game. Oh well I'm still cheerin them on. I mean, what else can I do? Be a whiny Yankees fan and boo one of the best players on their team because he isn't hitting .700 and hitting 120 homeruns. Actually at this rate, A-Rod will hit 120 homers. Damn whiny Yankee fans. Why don't you deal with 14 (soon to be 15) losing seasons in a row and then you'll have something to complain about.

[Not_My_Style]

Why don't you deal with 14 (soon to be 15) losing seasons in a row and then you'll have something to complain about.

:D Yeah, or not winning a World Series in 100 years.

[TheTaxidermist]

Hey at least (not last year of course) but in the past years you've had good chances at it. All I'd like is a .500 record. Is that too much to ask? Sure the Pirates have won 5 WS, but I have never witnessed one. So I guess me and you are in the same boat. As a matter of fact, the only playoffs I remember was the 1992 playoffs, and I really don't remember it that well.

[Not_My_Style]

Hey at least (not last year of course) but in the past years you've had good chances at it. All I'd like is a .500 record. Is that too much to ask? Sure the Pirates have won 5 WS, but I have never witnessed one. So I guess me and you are in the same boat. As a matter of fact, the only playoffs I remember was the 1992 playoffs, and I really don't remember it that well.

Yes, the pirates have sucked (major ass) the last 10 years or so.

I myself try not to think about the Cubs 2003 season. It makes me cry on the inside.

[Nick_Fury]

Yes, the pirates have sucked (major ass) the last 10 years or so.

I myself try not to think about the Cubs 2003 season. It makes me cry on the inside.

It makes me cry on the outside when I think about it.

And I don't worry about the Cubs not winning in 100 years because, like it was mentioned, I haven't seen them all of that time. Hell, I really only remember the last 12 years or so of sports, and there have been alot of teams not to win a championship in that time. Or at least that's what I tell myself to keep from giving up on the team altogether.

[TheTaxidermist]

Heh, I have a shirt that says "Pittsburgh baseball. Rebuilding since 1992." I'm going to sport it when I go to the Reds game next Saturday.

[Not_My_Style]

Pirates and the Cubs are tied in the NL Central at 12-14. The Brewers are kicking major ass at 18-9. Discuss!

P.S.- So far everybody (I believe) has been a fan of a team in the NL Central, so that's why I mentioned this. It's kind of cool actually. :)

[dooganking]

hell yeah for the brewers...
their pitching has been doing really well lately and if this hitting keeps up i'd be surprised if we don't have 7 guys with 20+ homeruns (6 depending on the playing time the outfielders get...).

and god i love it when jenkins gets a ball to crush... (same thing with fielder, but for some reason jenkins' follow-thru just looks ridiculous...). I just hope everyone stays healthy and no one complains about playing time (like mench and jenkins threatened to do...)...

[Not_My_Style]

I'm hoping the Cubs can keep up this current winning streak they're on (3 games). Hopefully your Brewers will start to cool down a little once we get farther into the season.

[TheTaxidermist]

Actually it's a 2 game winning streak. I should know since they just played the Pirates. Stupid Grabow and Bayliss, can't keep a 4 run lead. Stupid John Kruk jinxed us by picking us to be leading the division by the end of May. Pirates always have a good second half, so hopefully we won't go into the all star break 30-60 like last year. As for the Brewers, they are playing very impressively. Biggest surprise? The Yankees suckin major ass. Thank goodness.

I like what Jay Leno said last night. He said "The average person is said to shed 140 pints of tears in their lifetime. Double that if you're a Cubs fan."

[Nick_Fury]

The NL Central is absolutely terrible. The Cubs lose like 6 in a row and we still manage to stay near the top. At least we managed to go 3-1 when Lou got suspended. Maybe tonight we can extend our current win streak of....one.

[TheTaxidermist]

I went to a game in Cincinnati two Monday's ago. It was enjoyable, except for the fact that we let a 1-6 6+ERA pitcher throw a complete game shutout against my Buccos. But it looks as though the Pittsburgh Pirates reliever situation is not good. How many good starts can our bullpen blow on us in the 7th and 8th inning? It's friggin ridiculous. They're at 26-34 right now. I would say that is unacceptable for most teams but I guess for the Pirates, at least we still have a chance.
Doesn't it seem like St. Louis has come on as of late? Pujols is finally showin what he can do.

[Nick_Fury]

I know how you feel. The Cubs bullpen is at about the same talent level as that of the Pirates - if not worse. Lord knows how many blown wins we have had due to our bullpen coming in and giving up 3,4,5 runs in a few innings. It's so ridiculous. The worst part, though, is that Lou Piniella keeps sending out the same guys with their 7 ERAs the next day after blowing a game and then what do they do? Blow another one.

As for St. Louis, Pujols does seem to be getting back to where he normally is but the rest of the seems mediocre at best, especially for a team that won the World Series last year. Hopefully they continue to suck.

[TheTaxidermist]

Oh and great, the Pirates drafted ANOTHER left handed pitcher. Yup a first round pick wasted on a reliever. Fantastic. Because we don't already have enough John Grabow's (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?playerId=5864)